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Chapter 115: Many Publishing Houses Prepare to Go North

The time came to Friday, April 4nd.

Taipei.

In the evening, the sun sets.

Zhao Guobin, who had just got off work, was driving on his way home.

Thinking that tomorrow is Saturday and he can have a rest, he felt very relaxed, with a smile on his face, driving slowly on the street.

After the car drove through several streets, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a number of students queuing on the side of the street. There were at least fifty or sixty students queuing.

He looked in the direction where the students were queuing and saw a bookstore.

Zhao Guobin frowned slightly. He already had some guesses in his mind, but when his car passed by these students, he still stepped on the brakes and stopped the car next to a few students.

Many students who were queuing turned to look.

Zhao Guobin rolled down the car window near them, smiled, and asked, "Hey, pretty boy! What book are you queuing up to buy? Is it "I Want to Become an Immortal"? "

Upon hearing this, some people rolled their eyes at him, some curled their lips, and some remained indifferent.

One student answered loudly: "Of course! Apart from this book, what other book is worth queuing up for?"

Zhao Guobin asked again: "Then can you tell me how many volumes of this book have been published so far?"

The student just now answered again: "No. 25 and No. 26!"

Zhao Guobin was a little surprised, "Only two episodes this month?"

The student nodded, "Yes! The author may not be able to write anymore. Who can write three episodes every month?"

Zhao Guobin smiled and said, "Thank you, handsome boy!"

After he finished speaking, he drove away.

During the Chinese New Year, Zhongyuan Yidianhui published three episodes of "I Want to Become an Immortal" every month for two consecutive months. As a practitioner in the publishing house, Zhao Guobin paid close attention to it.

He and many others were surprised at the time.

No one would have thought that Zhongyuan Yidianhui, a mainlander, could not only write a masterpiece like "I Want to Become an Immortal" that opened up a new genre, but also have such a fast writing speed.

This is to catch up with Mr. Ni who wrote about Wesley!

However, as far as they know, there are not many computers in the mainland at present, and many people cannot type fast. Zhongyuan Yidianhui is said to be just a student and has only been in contact with computers for a short time. Logically, his typing speed should be very slow.

How did he manage to write so many words in a month?

Even if he wrote directly on the computer, he couldn't type fast enough to finish three episodes a month, right? Three episodes would have nearly 20 words.

He is a student who has to go to school every day. How could he produce such a high amount of words?

Can't figure it out.

Zhao Guobin and many of his colleagues couldn't figure it out.

In comparison, local Taiwanese authors not only demand much higher remuneration, but also write much more slowly and often delay submitting their manuscripts.

Sometimes the editor has to come to your site in person to urge you to submit your manuscript.

Compared with the Central Plains, it is simply a waste.

Not only are they trash, they also want higher remuneration, which really makes me angry just thinking about it.

The car drove forward through two more streets and arrived at a relatively quiet street. Zhao Guobin suddenly stopped the car on the side of the road, then lowered the window and lit a cigarette.

The children at home are making noises, his wife is nagging, and his old mother is also chattering, and he can never calm down. He is thinking about something at the moment, so he wants to sit quietly on the side of the road for a while and think carefully.

He is an executive at Adventurer Publishing.

When it comes to work, I am passionate about it and have my own ideas.

For example, at this moment, he was thinking about the students who had just lined up to buy "I Want to Become a Fairy", and also remembered that "I Want to Become a Fairy" had been at the top of the Flower and Butterfly List for a long time.

With this book, Xinchang Publishing House not only made a lot of money, but also gained fame and status in the industry.

As far as he knows, several publishing houses in Taiwan have sent people to the mainland to collect manuscripts this year. They all want to follow Xinchang's example and hope to dig out another Central Plains writer from the mainland.

These publishing houses have recently published works by mainland authors.

Sales volume and reputation are mixed, with both good and bad.

But he heard that it was profitable overall.

Maybe... I should propose to the higher-ups that we adventurers can also send people to the mainland to collect manuscripts.

Moreover, not only should we collect manuscripts from other mainland authors, we should also send our best and brightest troops to try to dig out some of the Central Plains’ talents from Xinchang.

The book "I Want to Become an Immortal" has been published to the 26th volume. It has a lot of words and should be almost finished. At this time, if we send someone to meet Zhongyuan Yidianhui face to face, we should have hope of winning his new book contract.

Zhao Guobin's eyes became brighter the more he thought about it. He did not rest for the next two days of the weekend. Instead, he locked himself in the study and wrote the plan.

After the Qingming Festival.

After returning to the publishing house, he took the planning proposal and knocked on the boss's office door after the morning meeting to report his ideas in private.

The boss listened to his report thoughtfully.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Guo Bin! You said you want to send elite troops this time. Who do you think should be sent?"

Zhao Guobin: "I suggest that Baohui and I go there! I can stay in the mainland and continue to collect manuscripts for the company."

The boss raised his eyebrows slightly, a little surprised, as if he didn't expect Zhao Guobin to be so shameless. He said he would send elite troops and generals, but he recommended himself?

However, Zhao Guobin admired his enthusiasm. He only asked one question, "Can't you go alone? Do you need Baohui to go with you?"

Zhao Guobin nodded. "Zhongyuan Yidianhui and I are both men. If I go to find him alone, it may not be easy to get in touch with him. Baohui is pretty enough, and opposites attract. It should be easier to arrange a meeting with him."

The boss nodded, "Okay! Then go and prepare! I'll notify Baohui."

Zhao Guobin agreed and left the office.

……

However, he did not expect that within a few days, before he and Baohui set off, his plan had spread within the circle.

Zhao Guobin was very annoyed about this.

Because he heard that many publishing houses such as Gaia, Hetu, Shuopin, etc. were also preparing to send people to the mainland to collect manuscripts.

It seemed that his plan reminded these colleagues.

He doesn't know how his plan was leaked?
He certainly didn't tell anyone, so who else could it be? The boss? Baohui? Or someone else?
He didn't dare to question the boss.

Baohui...

He didn't want to question her. If he had an unpleasant argument with Baohui, it would be difficult for him and Baohui to work together well when they went to the mainland together next time.

Substitution?

In the entire company, he couldn't think of anyone more suitable than Baohui.

Besides, the news has already leaked out. What can be done even if Baohui is replaced?
He could only endure it.

Then I will make preparations as soon as possible and try to go to the mainland as soon as possible.

……

The news reached Xinchang Publishing House.

At the company's morning meeting that day, the heads of various departments of Xinchang spoke one after another. Someone suggested signing the contract for Zhongyuan Yidianhui's next book in advance to eliminate the possibility of other publishing houses snatching Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new book contract.

Some people objected, saying it was too risky.

Zhongyuan Yidianhui's remuneration is not low. If we sign a contract for his new book in advance, what price should we give? If we rashly sign a contract for a high price before seeing the new book, what if his new book is not of good quality and the market does not buy it?
Those who oppose it use Zhongyuan Yidianhui's age as an excuse.

Zhongyuan Yidianhui is only 19 years old. Young people of this age are not calm. Maybe his next book will write about some unpopular topic.

For example, "I Want to Become an Immortal" is a very unpopular subject.

It’s just that this book succeeds.

But this does not mean that he will still be successful next time he writes about unpopular topics.

The more likely possibility is that the market will not buy it.

The reason why unpopular topics are unpopular topics is that it is difficult to succeed.

There was a big noise in the conference room.

President Lan Tianhu listened with a frown on his face, without expressing his opinion or interrupting the argument.

Because both sides have a point.

Although signing Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new book in advance can prevent the possibility of being intercepted by competitors, Xinchang will have to bear considerable risks.

If the market does not accept Zhongyuan Yidianhui’s new book, the loss will be huge.

Moreover, Zhongyuan Yidianhui may not be willing to sign the contract for the next book to them in advance.

Unless they can offer a high price that Zhongyuan Yidianhui cannot refuse.

But the higher the price they offer, the greater the risk they bear.

Unless... Zhongyuan Yidianhui already has the manuscript of a new book and is willing to send it to them for review.

In this way, they can judge the market prospects of the book based on the quality of the manuscript, and the risks they need to take will be much smaller.

However, "I Want to Become an Immortal" has not been completed yet, and Zhongyuan Yidianhui's speed of publishing manuscripts has not slowed down at all in recent months. Does he still have time to write a new book? Does he have any manuscripts for a new book on hand?
The safest approach, of course, is not to sign a contract for Zhongyuan Yidianhui’s new book in advance.

But adventurers, fans and other colleagues are about to send people to the mainland to directly contact Zhongyuan Yidianhui. Can Zhongyuan Yidianhui, who is only 19 years old, resist the temptation of the high price offered by his colleagues? Why should he resist this temptation?

The meeting ended in a quarrel without reaching a clear result.

After the meeting.

Lan Tianhu returned to his office, pondered for a moment, picked up the phone on the desk and dialed the office in mainland China.

The call is connected.

Evergreen: "Hello, President! What instructions do you have?"

Lan Tianhu: "Ashu! Adventurer, Shuopin and other peers will send people to the mainland in the near future to contact Zhongyuan Yidianhui. They want to get the contract for his next book. We can't just sit back and watch."

Chang Qingshu was surprised, "What? President, is your information accurate?"

Lan Tianhu: "Of course it's accurate! Now I'll give you two tasks."

Evergreen: “You say!”

Lan Tianhu: "The first task is to contact Zhongyuan Yidianhui and ask him how long it will take to complete "I Want to Become an Immortal". Also, ask him if he is willing to sign the contract for the next book with us in advance. If so, what price he wants.

The second task is, if his price is too high, then you can ask him, has he started writing the next book? Does he have any manuscripts saved? If not, does he have an outline or general ideas? If so, you must try to get him to give you the outline or ideas and give them to us for review. You can tell him that as long as we review and approve them, we can agree to his price. "

(End of this chapter)